Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-07-09
THE NATIONS CAPITOL.

TIE IVA loN . SAFl VI
The structure VIII BE the Most Beau
tifuI and Extensive in the World
Building the Marble Terrace and
the Grand staircase.
The marble terrace and grand stair
case which are to complete the i'm
posing western approach to the CAPT
tol of the United States. with the return
of the balmy days OF spring presents
once more !; scene of busy energy
among the scores of workmen who
with crane and trowci are placing the
huge blocks of polished marble and
granite in their assigned places on the
master builders plan. A procession of
carts simultaneously carry away the
excavated earth rs the foundation of
the extension Of the gigantic work goes
on. When the French engineer, under
instructions from President Washing
ton, in the summer Of 1890, made II
reconnaissance of the gracefully uniu-
iating lands in the forks of the Potomac
and the AuacOStia Us the site of the
proposed seat of government, he point
ed out on his rude field sketch II CON
spicuous eminence, then called Jenkins
hill. as the mos: proper site for 1.-The
federal house where congress should
meet" Three years later Washington
laid the cornerstone of the original
edifice. which is now little more than
the foundation for the beautifully pro-
portioned iron dome towering over the
the balustraded marble walls and Cor
jpthian porticocs which to-day inclose
the four acres of frescoed and ollded
ante-rooms. corridors. committee
rooms. and great halls occupied bv the
business of legislation.
The pure white marble walls and sur-
MOUNTING balustrade. with pedestals
for statues in the future, which have
supplanted the primitive turfed slopes
of the terrace on the north and south
sides of the edifice, have been finished.
The western portion from the angles to
the grand staircase is nearly so which
leaves nothing to cons,,mmate this i'm
posing piece of architectural beauty
and soliditv but the GRAND staircase it.
self This will be far toward compile
ton before the close of the present
working season.
Though but five wears less than
stone of the DR. es dents house. the first
of the public buildings in the federal
city, was laid, WASHINGTON. the capital
of the United States, can boast of the
Hottest structure extant reared bv man
in the marble obelisk to the memory of
1.-The Father of His Country 1t has
the largest and finest legislative and
government buildings on the globe.
1t has more equestrian statues and as a
rule of equal merit than all the other
capitals of the world combined, and
its open-air and indoor statues number
upward of hundred. Its national
museums are the greatest and finest in
in the economical, chronological, and
medical affairs of mankind OF any in
existence. Its new library building
will eclipse in beauty all structures OF
the kind now in existence. Its new
observatory will surpass all others
The extension of its water-supply will
exceed the great acqueducts of Rome
The latest triumph in the world of
wonders of the American capital will
be this grand staircase. Nothing of
equal magnitude can be found in the
great capitals which date back to the
infancy of nations. The grand terrace